ApHC Director October Report

 

 

                           Things have been buzzing at the ApHC!

 

First and foremost of course is the World Show coming up October 26-November 3 in Fort Worth.  Staff has been working very hard to make this a unique event.  The World Sale will be held on October 31.  There are 74 yearlings in the Incentive section and 20 horses in the Select section, for a total of 94 head of horses.  New to the sale this year is the live on-line bidding through Liveauctions.TV.  If you would like to take advantage of this service please go to the ApHC web site for instructions on getting a bidder number.  Also, we are thrilled to be able to screen the award winning short Trail End starring Barry Corbin and Chippen Gold.  Shannan Keenan, the producer, writer and director and long time Appaloosa owner, will be present and we are hoping Mr. Corbin will be able to make an appearance as he lives in Fort Worth.  We will be screening this movie several times a day starting November 1.  Chippen Gold will also be at the show and will be giving hoofographs.  The Freestyle Reining for Toys for Tots has been moved back to Friday evening so we expect a full house.  The Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association will be doing a demonstration on November 3.  Many of our Appaloosa members have been competing in this sport and done well in the competitions.

 

Several of our directors have been busy out promoting our spotted horses.  Laura Lyon and Tracy Meisenbach, along with Ron, Donna and Melissa Georgyi, were at Breyerfest in Lexington, KY in July.  The Appaloosas and the donated Breyer spotted horses were again one of the hits of the show.  Merida McClanahan, director of Marketing, staffed the ApHC booth at “Horse Around Days” in Mt Vernon, WA.  CEO Steve Taylor and President Eric Beené represented the ApHC at the Canadian National Appaloosa Show while Frank Larrabee, Tracy Meisenbach and Merida McClanahan attended the 26^th Anualmente Exposición de Caballos Lagos in Lagos de Moreno, Mexico and met with the President and Vice President of the Asociacion del Caballo Appaloosa de México (ACAM).  While at the show, our representatives also conducted numerous clinics on a variety of topics from basic grooming to showing at halter.  Steve Taylor and Eric Beené attended the European National Championships in Aachen,Germany. 

 

All these international trips are paid for with funds from U. S. Livestock Genetics Export Inc, a nationwide livestock-specific, not-for-profit, trade association representing the International Market Development interests of the U.S. dairy, beef, sheep, swine and horse breeding industries.  As a member of the organization, the ApHC has been awarded grant monies to assist in developing international trade and to grow the international genetic trades of the Appaloosa.  Our international market is growing as at least 22 horses at the National Show sold to buyers in Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Venezuela and France for a reported total dollar amount of $199,500.

 

We have added the ability for our members to purchase on-line pedigrees via the web.  Also added is the ability for show personnel to perform membership verification via the web.  Another new feature on the ApHC website is the “Race Results” button on the left menu of all racing pages, where visitors can view results from the tracks.  A new youth web site at www.appaloosayouth.com has been added as a fun and interactive way to attract new youth members.  A new partnership with MyHorseForSale.com allows visitors to appaloosa.com to find horses for sale or advertise their stock on the club site.

 

The slots for the new futurities went on sale October 1, and from all reports they were selling quickly.  The open slots were selling quicker than the youth/non-pro.  Since part of the slot futurity objective is to generate sales (and breeding) of Appaloosas, as well as to award top competitors, the Appaloosa Journal will provide a special “Slot Futurity Prospect” tag, if requested, on ads submitted to the Sale Ring section. Look for more info on this in November’s issue.

 

We received word from Sue Schembri of Char-O-Lot Ranch that their stallion, DZ Weedo, has been selected as a new Breyer model horse to be distributed this Christmas.  He was selected for his unique color.

 

The Gold Buckle Network is showing the 50 Mile Endurance Ride and Youth Nationals episodes of our TV show.  I have seen the youth episode and it is great.  I hope to be able to have a DVD of this for use at the National Western Stock Show.  Anyone interested in a DVD of this please contact Merida McClanahan in Marketing.

 

The Chief Joseph Trail Ride and Appaloosas will be featured in a 6-page full color story in John Deere’s Homestead Magazine.  This magazine is targeted to folks living a rural lifestyle and has a circulation of 180,000 in the US and Canada.  This will put our wonderful horse in front of a whole new group of folks.

 

We are happy to report that the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce sent the ApHC a check for $10,000 as added support for the show due to construction issues and loss of premium stabling.  We’ve also received a check from them in the amount of $48,000 per our contract ($45,000 is show support and $3000 is sponsorship of the awards banquet).

 

Our year to date registration numbers as of the month of September are down compared to 2006, but our transfers are up.  We have had 459 Performance Permits issued so far this year. 

 

Every year at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta Canada the Telus Battle of the Breeds is held.  We are pleased to announce that Team Appaloosa emerged the winner after competing in five events—precision driving, jeopardy jumping, barrels, trail and compulsory skills.  This is one of the premier equine events in North America.

 

I want to remind everyone that our next ApHC Board of Directors meeting will be in March 10-12, 2008 in Albuquerque, NM at the Hotel Albuquerque on Rio Grande Blvd.  I encourage everyone who can to attend.